Wearied out with her wanderings

Wearied out with her wanderings, the dove returns
at length to the ark as her only resting-place.  How
heavily she flies-she will drop-she will never reach
the ark!  But she struggles on.  Noah has been looking
out for his dove all day long, and is ready to receive her.
She has just strength to reach the edge of the ark; she can
hardly alight upon it, and is ready to drop, when Noah puts
forth his hand and pulls her in unto him.  Mark that:  “pulled
her in unto him."  She did not fly right in herself, but was too
fearful, or too weary, to do so.  She flew as far as she could,
and then he put forth his hand and pulled her in unto him.
This act of mercy was shown to the wandering dove, and
she was not chidden for her wanderings.  Just as she was she
was pulled into the ark.  So you, seeking sinner, with all your
sin, will be received.  "Only return" - these are God's two
gracious words-"only return."  What! nothing else?  No,
"only return."  She had no olive branch in her mouth this
time, nothing at all but just herself and her wanderings;
but it is "only return," and she does return, and Noah
pulls her in.....                 C. H. Spurgeon

Like Noah's weary dove,
That soar'd the earth around,
But not a resting place above
The cheerless waters found;

O cease, my wandering soul,
On restless wings to roam;
All the wide world, to either pole,
Has not for thee a home.

Behold the Ark of God,
Behold the open door;
Hasten to gain that dear abode,
And rove, my soul, no more.

There, safe thou shalt abide,
There, sweet shall be thy rest,
And every longing satisfied,
With full salvation blest.

And, when the waves of ire
Again the earth shall fill,
The Ark shall ride the sea of fire,
Then rest on Sion's hill.
              William Augustus Muhlenberg